Lido Key wins beach restoration award

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association today named Lido Key in Sarasota the recipient of one of its 2009 Best Restored Beach award.

The award is designed to highlight the value of restored beaches, the ASBPA said in a news release.

According to the group, "The bright white beach of Lido Key is vital to both the local and state tourism-driven economies and is a major recreational asset for residents. In addition to year-round recreational use, the beach is also important in providing coastal storm protection. The beach renourishment project concluded in April 2009 with the placement of over 600,000 tons of white sand. The project restored the beach of Lido Key to the condition it was in prior to the devastating hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, and now provides vital storm protection for a hurricane evacuation route, major residential buildings and recreational areas, as well as restoration of the beach's sea turtle nesting and shorebird habitats."